Method and apparatus for use in making snow

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a method for use in making snow comprising forming a spiraling column of air and moving it in one direction to and through a mixing chamber and out a nozzle. Water is flowed in a direction opposite to the direction of the column of air outside the nozzle and the chamber. Thereafter, the method involves introducing the water into the spiraling column of air adjacent the inlet to the mixing chamber, the water being introduced substantially uniformly about the periphery of the spiraling column of air to thoroughly mix and disperse the water with the air in the mixing chamber. The disclosure also relates to a snow making gun for carrying out the method described above.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,923,246

Cloutier et a1. Dec. 2, 1975 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN 3,747,851 7/1973 Conrad 239/14 MAKING SNOW 3,774,843 11/1973 Rice 239/14 [76] Inventors: g fg i?g gfig i gi iii Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr.

MonbTremblam Loge Assistant ExaminerAndres Kashnikow MOnt Tremblam both 6 Quebec Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Alan Swabey & Co. Canada 221 Filed: July 11, 1974 1571 ABSTRACT {21] A I No 487 649 The disclosure relates to a method for use in making pp snow comprising forming a spiraling column of air and moving it in one direction to and through a mixing [52] US. Cl. 239/2 S; 239/139; 239/403; chamber and out a nozzle. Water is flowed in a direc- 239/4 tion opposite to the direction of the column of air out- [5ll I M- C 0 0; B 7/04 side the nozzle and the chamber. Thereafter, the [58] Field of Search 239/2 S, 8, 14, 399, 403, method involves introducing the water into the spiral- 3 404 ing column of air adjacent the inlet to the mixing chamber, the water being introduced substantially uni- [561 References Cit formly about the periphery of the spiraling column of UNITED STATES PATENTS air to thoroughly mix and disperse the water with the 1 087 086 2/1914 Hand 239/434 x air in the mixing chambe The disclmure relates 1:757:023 5/1930 Smith 239/399 9 SHOW making gun for Carrying out the method 2,942,790 6/1960 Starkey et a1..,1 239/403 x scribed above. 3,141,615 7/1964 Waldron, JI..... 239/8 3,408,005 10/1968 Struble et al. 239/14 9 Clams 3 Drawmg Flgures I 'I 4 1" Q" @932! 0 '1 Km 1 I I l I \\C I 1 25 /9 I Q/ 3 l 27 2 g US. atent Dec. 2, 1975 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN MAKING SNOW BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention 'This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for use in making snow.

2. Description of the Prior Art Methods and apparatus for making snow are known. Snow making apparatus is normally used to supplement the natural snow fall on ski hills and operates generally on the principle of mixing water and air to atomize the water, the atomized water forming ice crystals or snow when blown out by the air through a nozzle to fall on the ground to be covered.

Snow making apparatus now used, however, can be inefficient since the water and air are not always properly mixed together to atomize a substantial portion of the water, and further, the apparatus tends to freeze up during operation, thus necessitating frequent stoppages in making snow while the apparatus is cleared .of ice.

In an attempt to overcome the freezing problem, the apparatus, particularly the air-water mixing chamber and nozzle out of which the atomized water-air mixture is blown, has been insulated. One manner of insulating the mixing chamber and nozzle is to circulate the water, being used to make the snow, about the mixing chamber and nozzle. This is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,408,005, issued Oct. 29, 1968, W. R. Struble et al, inventors. However, the insulation is still not entirely satisfactory since, within the mixing chamber, means are provided for imparting a spiral motion to the atomized water-air mixture. These spiral-motion imparting means, used to produce better mixing and a better quality of snow, provide an irregular surface or obstruction within the mixing chamber about which the air-water mixture can freeze, thus impairing the efficiency of the apparatus, and even causing the apparatus to completely freeze up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an improved snow making apparatus which minimizes the disadvantages of the known snow making apparatus. Applicants snow making apparatus or gun is constructed to minimize freezing up of the gun by both properly insulating the mixing chamber and outlet nozzle through the use of the water employed in making the snow, and by using a mixing chamber and nozzle having substantially unobstructed surfaces. Applicants gun is further constructed to provide improved mixing of the water and air so as to more efficiently atomize the water.

Applicants invention utilizes the step of imparting a spiral or whirling motion to air prior to passing it through the mixing chamber and out the nozzle. The water, used to insulate the mixing chamber and nozzle, is added to the air after the spiral or whirling motion has been imparted. The water is added in a substantially uniform manner to the spiraling air to thus provide a better distribution of the atomized water particles in the air as it passes through the chamber and out the nozzle. Providing a spiral motion to the air prior to the addition of the water thereto permits the use of a smooth surfaced chamber and nozzle. This eliminates the use of any means in the chamber and nozzle to more thoroughly mix the air-water mixture, which means could promote freeze-up of the gun.

Applicants invention is more particularly directed to a method for use in making snow which comprises moving a spiraling column of air in one direction to and through a mixing chamber and out a nozzle, and introducing water into the spiraling column of air substantially uniformly about its periphery to thoroughly mix and disperse the water with the air in the mixing chamber.

The invention includes the further step of flowing the water in a direction substantially opposite to the one direction along the outside of the chamber and nozzle prior to introducing it to the air to insulate the chamber and nozzle.

The invention is further directed toward a snow making gun having a mixing chamber with an outlet nozzle at one end, means for directing spiraling air into the mixing chamber and out the nozzle, and means for adding water to the spiraling air for mixing the water and air in the mixing chamber.

The invention is also directed toward a snow making gun having an outer casing which comprises an elongate tubular wall and end walls, a water inlet at one end of the casing, an air inlet at the other end of the casing, an elongated tubular member within the case and spaced from the tubular wall, one end of the tubular member forming an outlet nozzle through the wall at the one end of the casing, the other end of the tubular member forming an air-water inlet and spaced from the other end wall of the casing, and means between the other end of the tubular member and the air inlet for imparting spiral motion to air'passing from the air inlet into the tubular member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described in detail having reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG, 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the snow making gun of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the gun taken along line IIII in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The snow making gun 1 has an outer casing 3. The outer casing 3 can comprise a tubular, preferably cylindrical, wall 5 closed at its ends by end walls 7, 9. An elongate tubular member 1 1, providing a mixing chamber and outlet nozzle, is located within the outer casing. One end 13 of the tubular member forms an outlet nozzle, and the other end 15 of the tubular member forms an air-water inlet. The tubular member 11 is mounted within the outer casing 3 so as to be concentric therein, and is spaced from the cylindrical wall 5 of the casing. The nozzle end 13 of the tubular member passes into a central aperture 16 in the one end wall 7 of the casing. This end of the tubular member can be welded to the end wall by weld 17. A series of radial spacer vanes 19 adjacent the inlet end 15 of the tubular member extend between the tubular member and the cylindrical wall 5 of the outer casing so as to maintain the tubular member in spaced concentric relation to the cylindrical wall 5. The tubular member uniformly tapers from its inlet and 15 to the nozzle end 13 and the inner surface thereof is smooth and unobstructed. The tubular member is shorter in length than the outer casing, and thus its inlet end 15 is spaced from the other end wall 9 of the casing.

An inlet 21 for water is provided in the cylindrical casing adjacent the one end wall 7. A water line 23, leading from a source of water (not shown), is connected to the inlet. An inlet 25 for air is provided in the cylindrical wall adjacent the other end wall 9 of the outer casing. An air line 27, leading from a source of pressurized air (not shown), is connected to this air inlet 25.

Means are provided in the casing for imparting a spiral or whirling motion to the air introduced into the casing 3 from the air inlet 25 as it flows therefrom into the inlet end 15 of the tubular member. These means are located between the air inlet 25 and the inlet end 15 of the tubular member and can comprise a disc 29, extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the casing, welded about its periphery to the cylindrical wall 5. A series of slots 33, arranged in a circle, extend through the disc. The slots 33 are arranged to direct the air coming from the inlet 25 in toward the inlet end 15 of the tubular member while at the same time imparting a spiraling motion thereto. Thus, the outlet 35 of each slot is circumferentially offset from the inlet 37, as shown in FIG. 3. Each slot outlet 35 can also be radially inset from its respective inlet 37, as shown in FIG. 3.

In operation, water is introduced into the gun through water inlet 21 and follows a path shown by the dotted arrows in FIG. 1. The water floats about the tubular member 11 in a chamber 41 formed by the cylindrical wall 5 of the outer casing, the tubular member 11, end wall 7 and disc 29. The water flows toward and about the inlet end edge of the tubular member 11 where it is introduced into the spiraling column of air about its periphery as the air enters into the mixing chamber 43. The air, as shown by the solid arrows in FIG. 1, is introduced into the gun through the air inlet and flows through an air chamber 45 to the disc 29 and then through the slots 33 in the disc to give it a spiral whirling motion. As the spiraling column of air emerges from the slots to pass to the inlet 15, it picks up the water about its periphery, and the water and air are then thoroughly mixed iii passing through the mixing chamber 43. The water is uniformly dispersed and atomized, and the atomized water-air mixture is blown out of the gun from the nozzle 13 to be dispersed into the air to fall onto the ground as snow.

The casing 5 provides a water jacket about the tubular member 11, thus minimizing freezing up of the gun. The jacket completely encloses the mixing chamber. The water flows in a counter-direction to the air direction through the gun. The inner suface of the mixing chamber and nozzle is smooth and unobstructed.

While a slotted disc is shown to impart a spiral motion to the air, stationary vanes could be employed as well.

We claim:

1. A method for use in making snow comprising:

forming a spiraling column of air and moving it in one direction to and through an unobstructed mixing chamber and out a nozzle,

flowing water in a direction substantially opposite to the one direction along the outside of the nozzle and chamber,

thereafter introducing said water into the spiraling column of air at a space adjacent the inlet to the mixing chamber, said space formed between said mixing chamber and the means used to form the spiraling column, said water being introduced substantially uniformly about the periphery of said spiraling column of air to thoroughly mix and disperse the water with the air in the mixing chamber.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the air is passed through stationary means to impart spiral motion thereto prior to moving it through the mixing chamber.

3. A snow making gun which comprises a. an unobstructed mixing chamber and nozzle with an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end,

b. means for forming a spiraling column of air and directing said air into said inlet, c. means for directing water over the outside of the nozzle and mixing chamber to insulate the mixing chamber,

d. means for introducing said water into said spiraling column of air adjacent the inlet to the mixing chamber and substantially uniformly about the periphery of said column to thoroughly mix and disperse the water with the air in the mixing chamber.

4. A snow making gun as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means defined in (b) is stationary.

5. A snow making gun as recited in claim 3, wherein said mixing chamber and nozzle is spaced apart from said spiraling means so as to allow the water surrounding said chamber to mix with said spiraling air column substantially uniformly about the periphery thereof.

6. A snow making gun as recited in claim 3 further comprising means for containing said water in surrounding contact with said mixing chamber, wherein:

said containing means is disposed apart from said mixing chamber, and

said water introducing means comprises an edge of said mixing chamber within said water containing means and spaced apart from said spiraling means.

7. A snow making gun as recited in claim 3 wherein said mixing chamber and nozzle comprises a tapered cylindrical member.

8. A snow making gun having an outer casing comprising an elongated tubular wall and end walls, a water inlet at one end of the casing, an air inlet at the other end of the casing, an inner elongated tubular member in which the inner surface is unobstructed forming a mixing chamber within the casing and spaced from the tubular wall, one open end of the member forming an outlet nozzle and opening out through the wall at the one end of the casing, the other open end of the tubular member forming an air-water inlet and spaced from the other end wall, and means between the other end of the member and the air inlet for imparting spiral motion to air passing from the air inlet into the tubular member, wherein the tubular member comprises a cylindrical member tapering down in diameter from the other end to the one end, the other end being open to permit water to be introduced into the tubular member about its entire end edge.

9. A snow making gun as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means for imparting spiral motion to the air comprises a fixed disc extending transversely across the tubular wall of the casing and attached thereto, the disc having a plurality of slots passing therethrough which extend at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the casing. fi 4 

1. A method for use in making snow comprising: forming a spiraling column of air and moving it in one direction to and through an unobstructed mixing chamber and out a nozzle, flowing water in a direction substantially opposite to the one direction along the outside of the nozzle and chamber, thereafter introducing said water into the spiraling column of air at a space adjacent the inlet to the mixing chamber, said space formed between said mixing chamber and the means used to form the spiraling column, said water being introduced substantially uniformly about the periphery of said spiraling column of air to thoroughly mix and disperse the water with the air in the mixing chamber.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the air is passed through stationary means to impart spiral motion thereto prior to moving it through the mixing chamber.
 3. A snow making gun which comprises a. an unobstructed mixing chamber and nozzle with an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end, b. means for forming a spiraling column of air and directiNg said air into said inlet, c. means for directing water over the outside of the nozzle and mixing chamber to insulate the mixing chamber, d. means for introducing said water into said spiraling column of air adjacent the inlet to the mixing chamber and substantially uniformly about the periphery of said column to thoroughly mix and disperse the water with the air in the mixing chamber.
 4. A snow making gun as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means defined in (b) is stationary.
 5. A snow making gun as recited in claim 3, wherein said mixing chamber and nozzle is spaced apart from said spiraling means so as to allow the water surrounding said chamber to mix with said spiraling air column substantially uniformly about the periphery thereof.
 6. A snow making gun as recited in claim 3 further comprising means for containing said water in surrounding contact with said mixing chamber, wherein: said containing means is disposed apart from said mixing chamber, and said water introducing means comprises an edge of said mixing chamber within said water containing means and spaced apart from said spiraling means.
 7. A snow making gun as recited in claim 3 wherein said mixing chamber and nozzle comprises a tapered cylindrical member.
 8. A snow making gun having an outer casing comprising an elongated tubular wall and end walls, a water inlet at one end of the casing, an air inlet at the other end of the casing, an inner elongated tubular member in which the inner surface is unobstructed forming a mixing chamber within the casing and spaced from the tubular wall, one open end of the member forming an outlet nozzle and opening out through the wall at the one end of the casing, the other open end of the tubular member forming an air-water inlet and spaced from the other end wall, and means between the other end of the member and the air inlet for imparting spiral motion to air passing from the air inlet into the tubular member, wherein the tubular member comprises a cylindrical member tapering down in diameter from the other end to the one end, the other end being open to permit water to be introduced into the tubular member about its entire end edge.
 9. A snow making gun as claimed in claim 8, wherein the means for imparting spiral motion to the air comprises a fixed disc extending transversely across the tubular wall of the casing and attached thereto, the disc having a plurality of slots passing therethrough which extend at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the casing. 